About the Artist
James always had a desire to create art. He can recall being drawn to painting and drawing at a very early age. In high school he also became interested in industrial arts, such as architecture, photography and printmaking, but he never lost the desire to paint. Even during his time in the U.S. military, he always managed to draw and paint when time allowed. While working a full-time job, he completed his BFA in studio art at Winthrop University, graduating Cum Laude.
James has always kept a traditional approach to painting. He prefers to work in oils because of their unique and proven qualities with both the paint and the mediums. It permits him to work in specific details or use a gestural and bold approach as the composition dictates.
James prefers to construct his substrates by hand. He feels this craftsmanship creates a better more personal product. It permits him to optimize the dimensions and scale to the specific image composition. Once built, the surfaces are primed using mediums chosen for their archival quality. Canvases and linens are sealed with a traditional glue primer and then oil primed. Panels are sealed and primed with multiple layers of gesso to protect the panel and the paint and finished with an oil primer. James' painting technique is applied in multiple layers and glazing to achieve the desired effect for the image at hand. This approach more effectively utilizes the inherent qualities and properties of oil paints.
For James it became personal and important to create compositions and works that engage the viewer and keep their attention. He discovered it became important to create works that are driven by the mood, the silence, and the narrative that accompanies those principles. James strives to develop images that are familiar, yet distinct. It is not so much about any specific location or identifiable place, but one that connects with the viewer as special and unique. James’ quest is now to find that which elevates the image. Where is the sublime element(s) that exist and needs to be revealed?
RESUME
GALLERIES AND MEMBERSHIPS
- Jones & Jeffries Gallery, 751 12th Ave. South, Naples, FL
- Salmagundi Club, New York, NY (Non-Resident Artist)
- IGOR (International Guild of Realism)
- AAPL (American Artists Professional League), Elected Member, New York, NY
- I Pinckney Simons Gallery, Beaufort, SC 2022 - 2025
- Society of Bluffton Artists (SOBA), Bluffton, SC 2020 - 2022
- Associated Artists of Winston-Salem, NC — 2000 - 2003
EXHIBITIONS
- University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN Solo Exhibition - 2001
- Saul Alexander Gallery, CCPL, Charleston, SC Solo Exhibition – 2001
- Galerie Gora, 460 rue Ste Catherine O. Suite 305, Montreal, Quebec, Canada Group Exhibition 2001
- Sarrett Gallery, “Inner Conflicts”, 2-person exhibition, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 2000
- Bruise Gallery, Ann Arbor, MI. 1997 - 2000
SELECTED JURY EXHIBITIONS AND AWARDS
- AAPL 98th Grand National Exhibition, Salmagundi Club, New York, New York 2026
- NOAA (New Orleans Art Association) 27th National Juried Art Show 2026
- Cape Fear Studios National 2D Juried Exhibition 2026
- The Salmagundi Club 142nd Annual Members Exhibition, New York, New York 2026
- The Salmagundi Club 44th Annual Open Exhibition, New York, New York 2025
- AAPL Member Spring Exhibition 2025
- IGOR 19th Annual International Juried Exhibition, Sugarman-Peterson Gallery, Santa Fe, NM 2025
- AAPL 96th Grand National Exhibition, Salmagundi Club, New York, New York 2024
- IGOR Fall Salon Exhibition 2024
- Piccolo Spoleto Juried Art Exhibition, Charleston, SC 2024
- AAPL Member Spring Exhibition 2024
- IGOR 18th Annual International Juried Exhibition, Brennan Fine Art Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ 2024
- IGOR Fall Salon Exhibition, 2023
- Art League of Hilton Head Island, Biennale National Juried Exhibition, 2023
- AAPL Member Spring Exhibition 2023
- AAPL Associate Member Spring Exhibition 2023
- National Oil and Acrylic Painters (NOAPS) Fall International Online Exhibition 2022
- Cape Fear Studios 11th National 2D Juried Exhibition 2022
- 28th Annual SOBA Judged Show. Bluffton, SC 2022
- 27th Annual SOBA Judged Show. Bluffton, SC 2021 (3rd place, oils)
- Art League of Hilton Head Island, Biennale National Juried Exhibition, 2021
- South Carolina Oil Painters Open Invitational, Sumter, SC 2001(Honorable Mention)
- “Dimensions 2001”, National Juried Exhibition, Winston-Salem, NC 2001 (Honorable Mention)
- “July 4th National Exhibition”, Associated Artists of Southport, Southport, NC 2001
- South Carolina State Fair, Juried Exhibition – 2001
- “Realism 99”, International Juried Exhibition, Period Gallery, Omaha, NE 1999
- “Dimensions 1999”, National Juried Exhibition, Winston-Salem, NC 1999
- “July 4th National Juried Exhibition, Associated Artists of Southport, Southport, NC 1999 (Merit Award)
- South Carolina State Fair, Juried Exhibition 1999
- “Jubilee of the Arts”, Juried Exhibition, Rock Hill, SC 1999
- Union County Arts Council Invitational Juried Exhibition, Union, SC 1998
- “A Visual Harvest” Juried Exhibition, Gastonia, NC 1998
- “Come See Me’ Juried Exhibition, Rock Hill, SC 1997
- South Carolina State Fair Juried Exhibition 1997
- Yorkville Artists Guild Juried Exhibition, York, SC 1997 (Honorable Mention)
PUBLICATIONS
- American Art Collector, February 2026, Issue 244
- Fine Art Connoisseur, December 2025, Volume 22, Issue 6
- Fine Art Connoisseur, Virtual Gallery Walk for December 5, 2025
- Fine Art Connoisseur, Virtual Gallery Walk for October 10, 2025
- Plein Air Magazine, October-November 2025 Volume 15 Issue 5
- American Art Collector, April 2024
EDUCATION
Winthrop University, Rock Hill, SC - Bachelor of Fine Arts, Painting (Cum Laude), 1998
